Dietmar Hamann believes Liverpool should turn their sights towards Newcastle United's Joelinton over Declan Rice in an effort to bolster their midfield.
A lack of planning during the summer transfer window has left Jurgen Klopp's midfield light, in a season that they were expecting to challenge for the Premier League title.
Additionally, injuries to key players have left Liverpool's engine room short at times this season, which has meant the underperforming Reds have had to utilise youngsters Harvey Elliot and Fabio Carvalho in their usual three man midfield.
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Both West Ham United's Declan Rice and Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham have been mooted as potential solutions to Liverpool's midfield woes.
But Hamann, who also spent a season on Tyneside at St James' Park, reckons the Reds should opt to sign Newcastle's rejuvenated Brazilian midfielder Joelinton to improve their fortunes.
"Liverpool are 14 or 15 points behind the top of the table now and I don't think that one player makes up that many points," Hamann told Boyle Sports.
"Danny Murphy is right to suggest Declan Rice is a very capable player but I think it depends on how Fabinho comes back into the season because he's been really disappointing but he's a really brilliant player.
"I would like Liverpool to sign someone a bit more adventurous, someone like Joelinton from Newcastle who has a physical presence, can get you a goal and he has the full package. A player like him would suit Liverpool down to the ground.
"I think getting a player of his quality in January is near enough impossible and that should've been done in the summer."
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